Articulating tailgate

Abstract

A tailgate assembly for a vehicle includes hinge and track assemblies that enable opening of the tailgate from a closed position to a horizontal open position and further to a vertical open position to enable comfortable access to items within the cargo bed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tailgate assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 a tailgate; 
 a track assembly including a first link attached to a second link at a link pivot and a track member slidable over the first link, the second link and the link pivot, wherein the tailgate is attached to the track member and the track member is slidable from the first link to the second link to enable movement of the second link relative to the first link about the link pivot; and 
 a hinge attached to a static structure of the vehicle and the first link of the track assembly at a hinge pivot such that the first link and the tailgate is movable about the hinge pivot between a closed position and a horizontal position and further movable about the link pivot to a vertical open position. 
 
     
     
       2. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the track member is slidable from a first position that secures the second link parallel to the first link to a second position that enables the second link to move to a vertical open position that is transverse to the first link. 
     
     
       3. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the track member includes a channel and the first link and the second link are disposed within the channel. 
     
     
       4. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the track member extends over the link pivot when the tailgate is in the horizontal positon to hold the first link parallel with the second link. 
     
     
       5. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the second link includes a stop that limits movement of the track member relative to the second link. 
     
     
       6. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 2 , including a control link that is attached to the first link and the second link to control relative movement between the first link and the second link. 
     
     
       7. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the control link is attached at a first end to the first link and to the second link at a second end, wherein the first link includes a slot and the first end of the control link includes a pin movable within the slot to limit rotation of the second link relative to the first link. 
     
     
       8. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly includes a stop for limiting movement of the first link relative to the horizontal position. 
     
     
       9. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 1 , including a cable attached between the tailgate and a static structure of the vehicle for holding the tailgate in the horizontal positon. 
     
     
       10. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 1 , including a track assembly and a hinge assembly disposed on both sides of the tailgate. 
     
     
       11. A tailgate assembly for a vehicle comprising:
 a tailgate; 
 a track assembly including a first link attached to a second link at a link pivot and a track member slidable over the first link, the second link and the link pivot, wherein the tailgate is attached to the track member and the track member is slidable from the first link to the second link to enable movement of the second link relative to the first link about the link pivot; 
 a control link attached at a first end to the first link and to the second link at a second end, wherein the first link includes a slot and the first end of the control link includes a pin movable within the slot to limit rotation of the second link relative to the first link; and 
 a hinge attached to a static structure of the vehicle and the first link of the track assembly at a hinge pivot such that the first link and the tailgate is movable about the hinge pivot between a closed position and a horizontal position and is further movable about the link pivot to a vertical open position. 
 
     
     
       12. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the track member is slidable from a first position that secures the control link parallel to the first link to a second position that enables the control link to move to move relative to the first link. 
     
     
       13. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the track member includes a channel receiving the first link and the second link and a secondary channel receiving the control link. 
     
     
       14. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second link includes a stop that limits movement of the track member relative to the second link. 
     
     
       15. The tailgate assembly as recited in  claim 11 , including a lock assembly including a lock member that selectively couples the second link and the track member to limit movement of the tailgate along the second link.